“Yes, that make sense,” said Alex.
They rode on for a time as Alex considered what Whalen had told him about the magic books. It seemed obvious that Salinor was protecting the books, keeping them safe. Why the dragon had chosen to give them to Alex was less clear, but Alex knew the dragon had his reasons.
“The dragon also talked about my family,” Alex said carefully. “Do you know anything about them?”
“I do,” Whalen said with a smile. “I didn’t think you’d have time to ask old Clutter about them, so I did some digging on my own.”
“And?” Alex asked in excitement. “Do you know where my family comes from? Do I have aunts and uncles and cousins?”
“Yes, I know where your family is from, or at least where it is from recently.” Whalen laughed. “And yes, you have aunts and uncles and cousins and a great deal more. Your mother and father were related to almost every royal family in the known lands. Not just the human royal families either, but the elves and the dwarfs as well, though you might have to search a bit more to find those links.”
“The royal families?” Alex questioned in amazement.
“Well, some of the relations are a bit distant, but still, you are related. I imagine most, if not all, of the royal families will want to do the family history for you. After all, it would be good for them to have a wizard in the family.” Whalen looked at Alex. “But you should be careful with any information you learn about your family. From what little I know of your family, I would guess that not all of them are worthy of your assistance. I would suggest you learn all you can about any family members you meet before you help them.”
Alex nodded his understanding.
“Not all kings are good or noble,” Whalen reminded Alex. “I think you know what I mean, though you’ve not run into any really bad kings on your adventures so far.”
“No, but I’ve seen men and dwarfs who wished to take the place of a king,” said Alex. “I imagine I’m related to some people like that since they had some claim to a royal bloodline.”
“Oh, yes,” said Whalen in a serious tone. “Bloodlines are important to most people, and most important to the royal houses.”
“Will you tell me who I’m related to and how?” Alex questioned.
“Of course.” Whalen laughed. “You don’t think I learned all this for my own amusement, do you?”
Alex laughed at Whalen’s reply and for the rest of the day, he listened closely as Whalen explained how Alex was related to the different royal families in the different lands. Their evening fire was burning low before Whalen had finished telling Alex all that he’d learned. Alex was amazed by how many relations he had, and the fact that Whalen seemed to know so much about all of them.
“Don’t worry,” Whalen said with a smile. “I’ve written it all down for you. I don’t expect you to remember everything I’ve said, even if it is about your own family.”
“I don’t know how you remembered it all,” said Alex.
“I’ve lived a long time, and I’ve learned to organize things in my mind,” Whalen answered. “You’ve already learned to do this with some things, as you seem to have no trouble remembering magic spells.”
“That seems almost natural,” said Alex.
“Almost too natural sometimes? Almost too easy?” Whalen said as he watched Alex.
Alex nodded.
“Ah, your greatest fear,” said Whalen in his kindest voice. “You fear that because it all comes so easily to you, that you will not appreciate or remember it when you need to.”
“And that it might all slip away as easily as it came,” Alex added.
“Yes, it is a common fear,” said Whalen. “I’ve felt that fear myself, but very few things have ever slipped away without my knowing about it.”
“So I should not worry about losing everything I’ve become?” Alex asked.
“What good does the worry do you?” Whalen asked in return. “If all your magic were to slip away tonight, would worrying about it help you?”
“No, I suppose it wouldn’t.”
“Then don’t worry about things you can’t control,” Whalen said. “I doubt very much that your magic will ever slip away, and worrying about it won’t make a bit difference one way or the other.”
“It does seem a silly thing to worry about when you put it that way.”
“Yes, and you have other things to think about. Tomorrow we will pass through the small town of Resprin. The home I’ve found for you is a few miles outside of the town.”
“What kind of town is Resprin?” Alex questioned.
“Not large. The people of the town keep horses, and most of the horses belong to the king. I suppose that means that some of them are probably yours as well,” said Whalen as he leaned back against his saddle. “They are good people, honest and fair in their dealings. I think you will like the town, and I hope you will like the house I’ve found.”
“How far from Resprin do you live?” Alex questioned, rolling into his own blankets.
“Two days to the south,” Whalen said sleepily. “There is another town called Albian, and my home is a few miles east of that town.”
“I would like to see your house someday,” Alex said as he closed his eyes.
“And I would like to see you in your dragon form,” Whalen said through a yawn. “Perhaps tomorrow, if there isn’t anyone near, you could show me your other self?”
“As you wish,” said Alex and went to sleep.
The next morning after breakfast, Alex walked a little way from their campfire. He turned to look at Whalen and, then, after thinking for a moment, he laughed at himself.
“What?” Whalen questioned.
“The horses,” Alex answered. “You had better put a calming spell on them, or we’ll be walking the rest of the way to Resprin.”
“Oh, yes,” Whalen said with a laugh of his own.
Once Whalen had cast his spell, Alex relaxed his mind, accepting what he was. The magic filled the air around him, but it was different this time, more alive somehow. He paused to consider the magic, the connection to everything around him, and then he changed.
Yes,Salinor’s voice said softly in his mind. It is different in each land, but also the same.
The connection to the land, it’s . . .Alex trailed off.
It is something special. Something only dragons like ourselves can experience,said Salinor.
Dragons like ourselves?Alex questioned, knowing Salinor wasn’t talking about all dragons, but something else.
We that are true silver,said Salinor. We are . . .
What?
In time. Salinor laughed. You do not need to learn everything all at once, child.
Alex wondered what Salinor meant, but he knew the ancient dragon was finished speaking. He would learn what he needed to know in time, and that was enough for now. He relaxed his mind, focusing his thoughts on his human form and letting the magical connection slip away.
“True silver,” Whalen said in awe as soon as Alex was his human self once more. “You become a dragon of true silver.”
“I know. I never really thought about it. Does it mean something?” Alex questioned.
“I’m not sure,” Whalen answered slowly. “I’ve heard of legends that mention a dragon of true silver. I can’t remember the exact wording, however, and I don’t have time to look it up right now.”
“But you will look?”
“Oh, yes, I’ll look and let you know what I find,” said Whalen. “You see, I don’t remember everything, even if sometimes you think I do.”
“Well, I remember that you are in a hurry,” said Alex. “So we’d best be on our way.”
“That is true, but before we go, I must swear an oath,” said Whalen.